Ramblings of a Dadman

“What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you: 'This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more' ... Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus? Or have you once experienced a tremendous moment when you would have answered him: "You are a god and never have I heard anything more divine." – Friedrich Nietzsche I don’t know why, but this quote draws me in.  Each time I read it I ask myself, what would I do?  Would I be gnashing my teeth or would I be all-in?  Would any of the bad moments, the truly terrible moments, of my life be worth reliving just so I could experience those tremendous moments?  Do my tremendous moments outweigh the less-than stellar moments enough to wade back into the fray?  Would I need clarification from the demon? Excuse me, Mr. Demon, sir.  Umm, may I ask you a quest...

There are moments in everyone’s life that they can recall with perfect clarity.  All it takes is the briefest reminder and a whole scene plays out in front you as if you were there again.  Some of these glimpses are happy times, some of these glimpses are the saddest of times. I have experienced many of these days in my life, but the one that changed me forever occurred for me in the year 1980.  What pray tell could have impacted me in such a profound way?  Well sit down at Uncle Shane’s feet and lend me your ear…well, in this case your eyes (you can all groan now). Let me set the stage for you for just a moment.  I love Christmas.  I do; however, I believe Thanksgiving should get its due.  Let the Turkey cool before we start all the hullabaloo with decorations and singing and peppermint mochas.  Now that that is out of the way, I LOVE Christmas.  I still can’t sleep on Christmas Eve, partly due to the fact I am now Santa delivering a sl...